Is it easier than ever to build a start up now? With AXA Startup Angel Competition judges

Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 99.9% of the UK’s 5.7 million new companies last year. So what does it really take to build a business from scratch today, and how easy is it to secure funding? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with Raphael Sofoluke, the founder of the UK Black Business Show and UK Black Business Week, and Izzy Obeng, the founder and CEO of Foundervine. Both guests are on the judging panel for the AXA Startup Angel Competition from AXA Business Insurance - in partnership with the Standard - and in a couple of months they will select impressive entrepreneurs to win top prizes, including £25,000, expert mentoring, plus business insurance for a year. Together, they discuss what it takes to be a founder, including the most common mistakes, tips on how to impress investors, and how to build a supportive business network that pays dividends in the long run. Competition entries close on 21 June 2026. For more information and to enter this year's AXA startup Angel competition, visit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can listen to Is it easier than ever to build a start up now? With AXA Startup Angel Competition judges online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Is it easier than ever to build a start up now? With AXA Startup Angel Competition judges is an episode from Tech and Science Daily | Evening Standard by Rachelle Abbott.

This episode is 20:52 long.

This episode was published on Apr 29, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Tech and Science Daily | Evening Standard when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.